Festivals play a vital part in our unity as a country bringing together people from different backgrounds lifestyles and cultures While the most prominent ones are crowd pullers from around the world the lesser known festivals do not lack anything in their grandeur and magnificence either Some are part of popular culture others less so Heres a look at some of the lesserknown ones Not for the faint of heart this Hindu festival is typically celebrated in southern India and involves some of the most intense body piercings known to man According to practitioners the more pain you can endure the more you will be blessed and some even try pulling tractors or other heavy objects with the hooks in their skin Sometime during AprilMay the village of Koovagam in Villupuram district comes alive for 18 days as thousands of transgender people from across the country and abroad congregate at Koothandavar temple in celebration Said to be practiced for hundreds of years the festival is a reenactment of a Mahabharata legend about Aravaan a son of Arjuna born out of wedlock Legend has it that Aravaan agrees to be sacrificed to Goddess Kali in order to win the war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas His only wish was to be married and consummate his marriage before his death However considering that no woman wanted to marry a man who was sentenced to die Lord Krishna then took the form of a woman Mohini and marries Aravaan The next day Aravaan is offered in sacrifice to Goddess Kali who then devours him Transgender people who come to Koovagam reenact Aravaan s singleday marriage The first 16 days are spent in celebration with songs dance and modernday additions such as beauty contests and plays on AIDS awareness On the 17th day priests tie thaalis or mangalsutras around the necks of transgender people after performing special rituals for Aravaan Thus for one night all of them become the brides of Aravaan following which is a night of celebration The last day signifies Aravaan s beheading by Kali The participants essay the role of widows mourning the death of their husband and ripping off the thaalis and taking off the flowers and ornaments Say bullfight and most think of Spain where it is a popular sport drawing tourists from the world over But there is a desi version too which is not as well known If bullfights are a part of festivals in Spain taming of bulls is a popular sport in North Karnataka There are people everywhere easily tens of thousands they flood the roads filling the narrow alleys their eager faces gaze down from rooftops they are perched precariously on bamboo scaffoldings to get a better look Festooned with gulal colored powder ribbons and garlands and moving its head agitatedly showing off the razorsharp horns it tears past the mass of humans A hush engulfs the crowd and the excitement is palpable The notsobrave scamper to shelter themselves from the onslaught the barricades are no match to the brute force of the beast The alley which looked jampacked just one moment back miraculously gives way A few brave men venture forward almost all of them are in high spirits literally and figuratively speaking The most audacious among them make an attempt for the bull s hump the notsodaring make for its tail and the puniest among them are content to just touch the bull and beat it once Shigmo in Goa is esentially a festival of the masses Though it is celebrated under different names and in different ways in various parts of India It is the festival of farewell to winter celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Phalguna March the last month of the Hindu calendar Shigmo begins with Naman or collective obeisance of villagers from 9th moon day to fullmoon day During all these days they are to shun nonvegetarian food and all intoxicants Turban tying competitions camel racing singing puppeteers acrobats and a prize for the best moustache Where do we sign This festival is held annually in Rajasthan and is a chance for the villagers to come together in the relative winter cool and show the many visitors their traditions and celebrate the year to come The courtyard of Hemis Gompa the largest Buddhist monastery in Ladakh is the stage for the famous Hemis festival that celebrates the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava Local people are seen dressed up in their finest traditional garb for the occasion Lamas called chhams perform splendid masked dances and sacred plays to the accompaniment of cymbals drums and long horns The head lama presides over the function Ka Pomblang Nongkrem is the most important and elaborate festival of the Khasis This fiveday festival is held annually in November at Smit the capital of the Khyrem Syiemship near Shillong for thanksgiving to the Goddess Ka Blei Synshar for a rich harvest and prosperity of the people An important part of this festival is goat sacrifice made to the deity of Shillong peak Khasi men and women dressed in traditional splendour perform the famous Nongkrem dance This is a threeday fair held in AugustSeptember in Tarnetar in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat The fair coincides with the Trineteshwar temple festival Amidst much singing and traditional dancing such as the Garba and Rasada the villagers of Saurashtra gather here in all their festive finery Interestingly the celebrations also double as a marriage market for the tribals here and many an alliance is arranged at the mela One of the high points of the Coorg calendar is the Kunde Habba celebrated by the tribals of the region in the month of May The tribes belonging to the Jenukurubas BettaKurubas Yeravas Paniyas Kembetti and other sects all congregate in a common place usually a town area to celebrate their festival of abuses and to make merry By abuse I mean abuse God man machine and everything that they come across on that day This is a tradition that has passed on through generations among these tribes The ancient story goes that Lord Aiyappa took the tribes hunting in the forest but abandoned them when he saw the Goddess Bhadrakali and fell in love with her So the Kunde Habba is the tribals getting their revenge and trying also to win back the attention of the gods Special songs are also part of the ceremonies

Bride at night widow in the morning The Eunuch community which is steeped in mystery tends to have traditions that are even more esoteric for the common man Of the many bizarre and strange customs and festivals observed in India the Koothandavar festival of Koovagam is the most legendary This celebration of love death and sacrifice has its roots in the depths of the Mahabharatha war in Krishna s cunningness and in the noble nature of a valiant young man Read on to know the mystifying tale War was imminent between the Pandavas and Kauravas There was no way that a war could be averted thus saving millions of innocent human lives Krishna as the protector of the universe was worried about the outcome of the war It was true that he could intervene with his divine powers and avert catastrophe but humans are required to decide their own fates That s what the Vedas and Shastras say But still Krishna wanted the Pandavas to win the war for he was on their side and their doings were just and moral This would be the ultimate Good wins over Bad story if it had gone along as he desired Having no choice Krishna goes to Sahadeva who is blessed with the talent of accurately forecasting the future and reading horoscopes Sahadeva rolls his shozhi kaudi or the small conch shells used to help in predictions and after several calculations looked up and said something that increased Krishna s anxiousness by manifoldSahadeva answered Krishna To attain victory in the upcoming war you need to sacrifice a man filled with all the good qualities of valour strength bravery beauty and such to the goddess of war Kali He who first performs this sacrifice will gain the blessings of Kali and win the war All along the way back Krishna s mind was filled with a single thought Is there anyone anyone else other than Arjuna who can match the requirements of sacrifice Anyone at all He pleaded only to be met by a stunning silence Krishna s heart shattered at the thought of losing a dear friend He felt lightheaded and started to sway with dizziness when a voice cut through his haziness Am I eligible to be sacrificed the voice asked Krishna s eyes land on a very handsome man dressed as a warrior and bearing resemblance to Arjuna Who are you may I know questioned Krishna as hope revived in his heart I am Iravan the son of Arjuna and Naga princess Ulupi through an illicit wedlock I have come here to help bring victory to my father And if I can indeed help them win by sacrificing myself then I am ready to die he proclaimed Krishna is flooded with relief Using his divine powers he comes to know that Iravan is indeed a warrior par excellence full of good qualities and excellent character He would make the perfect sacrifice to Kali Krishna thought and he beckoned Iravan to come with him He introduced Iravan to the Pandavas including to Arjuna his father How tragic and praised the sacrificial qualities of Iravan Arjuna was not sure Krishna said You have seven armies The Kauravas have eleven You need as many warriors as you can get Acknowledge him as your son even if you dont remember his mother Hug him Bind him Dont let him go When the Pandavas agreed to sacrifice Iravan he realised his father did not love him as he loved his father No one in the battlefield really cared for him He mattered only because he was a perfect offering to the goddess But the sacrifice had to be done We can only sacrifice you if you are willing said Krishna I am willing I want to be remembered as a hero who sacrificed himself for his father answered Iravan Arjuna felt guilty But there was no turning back So you will be sacrificed to the Goddess at the dawn of war tomorrow Purify yourself mentally and physically and prepare for the day Long live your sacrifice Do you have a last wish asked Krishna Nobody here cares for me My mother told me not to go She told me that if I died only she would cry I defied her Told her there would be others who loved me I want that to happen I want someone to cry for me A widow who beats her chest and unbinds her hair and rolls in mud in my memory One who breaks her bangles to mourn for me Give me a wife Krishna Tell the Pandavas to find me a wife demanded Iravan No woman will marry a man doomed to die at daybreak A bride of a night and a widow for eternity Who will seal their daughters fate thus asked Bhima Krishna knew this was true But the war had to be won The boy had to be sacrificed And he had to go to the altar willingly We will manage that he assured Iravan Anything else Yes I would like to witness the entire war in my physical body and fight on the Pandava side It was here that the jealousy of Krishna kicked in He knew that Iravan was an excellent warrior and if he was allowed to fight there would be no need of any of the Pandavas or Krishna himself He said What is three weeks to a man like you You can fight for three and a twothird minute Iravan agreed charmed by Krishna s flattery Krishna said Cover your eyes cousins he said Let me do tonight what must be done Few will understand this Fewer still will accept this A temple needs to be built in memory of this event For no society will ever enshrine it Krishna then did the unbelievable He transformed himself into Mohini a form so beautiful that even Shiva had fallen for it and in the presence of the elders married Iravan That night Iravan got his first wish fulfilled Mohini seduced him with all her sexuality All through the night Iravan was confused if he was with a man or woman The smell of butter and milk reminded him of Krishna but at the same time he couldn t come out of Mohini s clutches The night passed and the day of the war dawned Iravan was taken to the battlefield where he tore off the skin from his arms and offered them to Kali Kali gave her blessings to Pandavas Then the war began Over the course of the 18 days Iravan kept Kali satisfied On the final day when his allotted 3 and twothird minutes of time came up he realized that he had been tricked He just had his head and his skeleton intact A fat lot of use they would come to Contemplating he assumed his Vishwaroopa form and with his head as a large stone he rolled over the enemy forces killing millions and badly hurting himself The war was over The Pandavas had won and the cause for it all Iravan was lying all alone on the Kurukshetra field During his final moments on earth when his life was ebbing away he heard the highpitched wail of a woman Turning towards the source of the wail he sees Krishna as Mohini beating her chest and wailing the very picture of a widowed woman grieving her husband With that final sight his spirit soared heavenwards and joined the other immortal heroes Mohini s wail was so loud so desperate so heartwrenching it moistened the eyes of the entire camp Mohini wiped away her sindoor slashed her wrists whilst breaking her bangles She threw away her jewels Flowers that had adorned her hair licked mud Her red bridal silk gave way to the white of widowhood Mohini cried shrieked wept and wailed for Iravan Her eyes were bloodshot and voice hoarse from hours of grief No widow had ever cried for her dead husband as Mohini had for Iravan This chapter in the Mahabharatha forms the central theme of the 18day festival at Koovagam The small shrine at Koovagam is dedicated to none other than Iravan himself and he is worshipped as Koothandavar The 18day festival celebrates the final days of Iravan s life right up to his brave sacrifice on the 18th day The highlight of the festival happens to be the marriage of Iravan The transgenders who gather here are the selfproclaimed brides of Iravan They claim themselves to be incarnations of Krishna who was a man trapped inside a woman s body when he seduced Iravan just like the transgender themselves The first 15 days of the festival pass in dancing singing and merrymaking the transgenders putting up colourful and lively performances All through the 18 days a gigantic head of Iravan is made and painted with the greatest care within the temple precincts On the 17th day the priest does special poojas to the idol of Iravan and bringing upon the power of Iravan on himself he ties the mangalsutra the sacred marital thread around the neck of all the transgenders present there They are now the wives of Iravan just for the night A gala feast is organised which is followed by a night full of merrymaking laughter and dance The gigantic head of Iravan is mounted on a chariot and taken around the village At the dawn of the 18th day the air is ripped by sharp wails as Iravan is beheaded widowing all his onedayold wives Following the traditions the widows of Iravan rip the Mangalsutraa from their necks tear flowers out of their hair throw away ornaments and wail loudly beating their chests just like Krishna mourned for Iravan long long ago Regardless of their individual faith eunuchs participate in all festivals whether Hindu Christian or Muslim like Holi Diwali Christmas Eidetc There are some festivals which though celebrated by one and all are of prime importance for eunuchs The nineday Urs festival at Khwaja Garib Nawaz s dargah the eighteenday long festival celebrating Aravan s sacrifice kalash ceremonies festivals celebrated for Goddess Yellamma etc are examples of some festivals that are celebrated by eunuchs with much more fervour than common people

Traditions in Hinduism were considered mainly as superstitions but with the advent of science it is becoming evident that these traditions are based on some scientific knowledge and moved from generations to generations as traditions Though the common people did not know science in it they were following it very faithfully over the years This blog is an attempt to bring forward the science involved in these traditions and rituals The general reasoning given for this act is that it brings Good Luck However scientifically speaking in the ancient times most of the currency used was made of copper unlike the stainless steel coins of today Copper is a vital metal very useful to the human body Throwing coins in the river was one way our forefathers ensured we intake sufficient copper as part of the water as rivers were the only source of drinking water Making it a custom ensured that all of us follow the practiceIn Hindu culture people greet each other by joining their palms termed as Namaskar The general reason behind this tradition is that greeting by joining both the palms means respect However scientifically speaking joining both hands ensures joining the tips of all the fingers together which are denoted to the pressure points of eyes ears and mind Pressing them together is said to activate the pressure points which helps us remember that person for a long time And no germs since we don t make any physical contact Wearing toe rings is not just the significance of married women but there is science behind it Normally toe rings are worn on the second toe A particular nerve from the second toe connects the uterus and passes to heart Wearing toe ring on this finger strengthens the uterus It will keep it healthy by regulating the blood flow to it and menstrual cycle will be regularized As Silver is a good conductor it also absorbs polar energies from the earth and passes it to the bodyOn the forehead between the two eyebrows is a spot that is considered as a major nerve point in human body since ancient times The Tilak is believed to prevent the loss of energy the red kumkum between the eyebrows is said to retain energy in the human body and control the various levels of concentration While applying kumkum the points on the midbrow region and Adnyachakra are automatically pressed This also facilitates the blood supply to the face muscles People who are visiting the temple should and will Ring the bell before entering the inner sanctum Garbhagudi or Garbha Gruha or wombchamber where the main idol is placed According to Agama Sastra the bell is used to give sound for keeping evil forces away and the ring of the bell is pleasant to God However the scientific reason behind bells is that their ring clears our mind and helps us stay sharp and keep our full concentration on devotional purpose These bells are made in such a way that when they produce a sound it creates a unity in the Left and Right parts of our brains The moment we ring the bell it produces a sharp and enduring sound which lasts for minimum of 7 seconds in echo mode The duration of echo is good enough to activate all the seven healing centres in our body This results in emptying our brain from all negative thoughtsOur living style has drastically changed if we compare it to the society hundreds thousands of years ago The traditions which we follow in present are not establishments of today but of the past Ever thought why do we have Navratras twice a year unlike other festivals like Deepawali or Holi Well both these months are the months of changing seasons and the eating habits of both the seasons are quite different from each other Navratras give enough time to the body to adjust and prepare itself for to the changing season These nine days were marked as a period when people would clean their body system by keeping fasts by avoiding excessive salt and sugar meditate gain a lot of positive energy gain a lot of self confidence increase the self determination power fasts are a medium to improve our will power and self determination and finally get ready for the challenges of the changed seasonHindu religion has bestowed Tulsi with the status of mother Also known as Sacred or Holy Basil Tulsi has been recognized as a religious and spiritual devout in many parts of the world The vedic sages knew the benefits of Tulsi and that is why they personified it as a Goddess and gave a clear message to the entire community that it needs to be taken care of by the people literate or illiterate We try to protect it because it is like Sanjeevani for the mankindTulsi has great medicinal properties It is a remarkable antibiotic Taking Tulsi everyday in tea or otherwise increases immunity and help the drinker prevent diseases stabilize his or her health condition balance his or her body system and most important of all prolong his or her life Keeping Tulsi plant at home prevents insects and mosquitoes from entering the house It is said that snakes do not dare to go near a Tulsi plant Maybe that is why ancient people would grow lots of Tulsi near their houses Peepal tree is almost useless for an ordinary person except for its shadow Peepal does not a have a delicious fruit its wood is not strong enough for any purpose then why should a common villager or person worship it or even care for it Our ancestors knew that Peepal is one of the very few trees or probably the only tree which produces oxygen even at night So in order to save this tree because of its unique property they related it to Godreligion Our ancestors have stressed on the fact that our meals should be started off with something spicy and sweet dishes should be taken towards the end The significance of this eating practice is that while spicy things activate the digestive juices and acids and ensure that the digestion process goes on smoothly and efficiently sweets or carbohydrates pulls down the digestive process Hence sweets were always recommended to be taken as a last itemSushrut rishi the foremost surgeon of Ayurveda describes the master sensitive spot on the head as Adhipati Marma where there is a nexus of all nerves The shikha protects this spot Below in the brain occurs the Brahmarandhra where the sushumn nerve arrives from the lower part of the body In Yog Brahmarandhra is the highest seventh chakra with the thousandpetalled lotus It is the centre of wisdom The knotted shikh helps boost this centre and conserve its subtle energy known as ojasBesides lending color to the hands mehndi is a very powerful medicinal herb Weddings are stressful and often the stress causes headaches and fevers As the wedding day approaches the excitement mixed with nervous anticipation can take its toll on the bride and groom Application of mehndi can prevent too much stress because it cools the body and keeps the nerves from becoming tense This is the reason why mehndi is applied on the hands and feet which house nerve endings in the body Diwali usually falls in October or November which marks the start of winter season and end of rainy season Rainy season wasnt a good time for everyone back then many homes needed repair and renovation after a heavy fall That is why time before diwali was considered the period during which everyone can indulge in cleaning and beautification of their home And also take out their winter clothes and pack the summer ones This tradition is not just about sitting on floor and eating it is regarding sitting in the Sukhasan position and then eating Sukhasan is the position we normally use for Yoga asanas Sitting in this position while eating helps in improving digestion as the circulatory system can focus solely upon digestion and not on our legs dangling from a chair or supporting us while we are standingMyth is that it invites ghost or death but since says that it is because human body has its own magnetic field Also known as hearts magnetic field because the flow of blood and Earth is a giant magnet When we sleep with head towards north our bodys magnetic field become completely asymmetrical to the Earths Magnetic field That cause problems related to blood pressure and our heart needs to work harder in order to overcome this asymmetry of Magnetic fields Apart from this another reason is that Our body have significant amount of iron in our blood When we sleep in this position iron from the whole body starts to congregate in brain This can cause headache Alzheimer s Disease Cognitive Decline Parkinson disease and brain degeneration Hindus have a tradition of paying regards to Sun God early in the morning by their water offering ritual It was mainly because looking at Sun rays through water or directly at that time of the day is good for eyes and also by waking up to follow this routine we become prone to a morning lifestyle and mornings are proven to be the most effective part of the day Piercing the ears has a great importance in Indian ethos Indian physicians and philosophers believe that piercing the ears helps in the development of intellect power of thinking and decision making faculties Talkativeness fritters away life energy Ear piercing helps in speechrestraint It helps to reduce impertinent behaviour and the earchannels become free from disorders This idea appeals to the Western world as well and so they are getting their ears pierced to wear fancy earrings as a mark of fashion Hindus do not eat meat on particular days not limited but including Tuesdays Thursdays and Saturdays The reason is that as a human being we need only a little amount of meat to fulfill the requirements of our body such as iron vitamin B12 and other vital nutrients But we often get addicted to eating meat which is not good for health It can cause diseases like piles kidney stones colon cancer etc Therefore Hinduism has placed some restrictions by assigning days to particular deities It is interesting to note that that the application of sindoor by married women carries a physiological significance This is so because Sindoor is prepared by mixing turmericlime and the metal mercury Due to its intrinsic properties mercury besides controlling blood pressure also activates sexual drive This also explains why Sindoor is prohibited for the widows For best results Sindoor should be applied right upto the pituitary gland where all our feelings are centered Mercury is also known for removing stress and strain Usually the person of whose feet you are touching is either old or pious When they accept your respect which came from your reduced ego and is called your shraddha their hearts emit positive thoughts and energy which is called their karuna which reaches you through their hands and toes In essence the completed circuit enables flow of energy and increases cosmic energy switching on a quick connect between two minds and hearts To an extent the same is achieved through handshakes and hugs The nerves that start from our brain spread across all your body These nerves or wires end in the fingertips of your hand and feet When you join the fingertips of your hand to those of their opposite feet a circuit is immediately formed and the energies of two bodies are connected Your fingers and palms become the receptor of energy and the feet of other person become the giver of energy The underlying principle behind fasting is to be found in Ayurveda This ancient Indian medical system sees the basic cause of many diseases as the accumulation of toxic materials in the digestive system Regular cleansing of toxic materials keeps one healthy By fasting the digestive organs get rest and all body mechanisms are cleansed and corrected A complete fast is good for heath and the occasional intake of warm lemon juice during the period of fasting prevents the flatulenceSince the human body as explained by Ayurveda is composed of 80 liquid and 20 solid like the earth the gravitational force of the moon affects the fluid contents of the body It causes emotional imbalances in the body making some people tense irritable and violent Fasting acts as antidote for it lowers the acid content in the body which helps people to retain their sanity Research suggests there are major health benefits to caloric restriction like reduced risks of cancer cardiovascular diseases diabetes immune disorders etc Hinduism propagates idol worship more than any other religion Researchers say that this was initiated for the purpose of increasing concentration during prayers According to psychiatrists a man will shape his thoughts as per what he sees If you have 3 different objects in front of you your thinking will change according to the object you are viewing Similarly in ancient India idol worship was established so that when people view idols it is easy for them to concentrate to gain spiritual energy and meditate without mental diversion It is a popular belief that Tulsi is the wife of Lord Vishnu therefore chewing it will be a mark of disrespect However botanists in the course of their research found that Tulsi plant has the maximum of mercury If raw mercury is applied to teeth they fall immediately That s why in Hindu religion Tulsi leaves are not chewed but swallowed Tilgul is a very colorful and excellent sesame candy made of sesame seeds and jaggery Til means sesame seeds whereas gul means jaggery in Marathi Hindi Since Makar Sankranti is celebrated in mid winter ideally Tilgul recipe is a combination that helps keep the body warm due to these heat generating ingredients making it a healthy sweet to enjoy In Ayurveda Sesame is considered to be an extremely beneficial and strong medicine Sesame laddus are beneficial for those children who normally have the problem of bedwetting in winters Normally the wrist portion is in constant activation on any human Also the pulse beat in this portion is mostly checked for all sorts of ailments The Bangles used by women are normally in the wrist part of ones hand and its constant friction increases the blood circulation level Further more the electricity passing out through outer skin is again reverted to ones own body because of the ring shaped bangles which has no ends to pass the energy outside but to send it back to the body

Believers and followers of Hinduism observe fifth month of the solar year as Sharvan a holy month dedicated to spiritual practices and religious offerings to Lord ShivaAs per English calendar it begins during late July and ends in the third week of August Shravan marks the onset of new moon and is beginning of Sun s transition into Leo zodiacMany Hindus during this month observe fasting especially on Mondays which are dedicated to Lord Shiva and are known as Shravan Somvar Vrat Some even observe fasts on Tuesdays which was known as Mangala Gauri Vrat According to the legends mentioned in Hindu Vedas and Puranas the holy month of Shravan is dedicated to worshipping Lord Shiva for success marriage and prosperityAs Lord Shiva is also known as the God of Tantra some followers consider performing Totka or Tantra during this month beneficialMonth of Shravan is also considered auspicious and holy due to many Hindu festivals falling within this month like Krishna Janmashtami Raksha Bandhan Naag Panchami and TeejThis is the month in which Lord Shiva grants boon to devotees who repent for their mistakes and ask for success evade negative energy bad luck etc This is the period where one attracts the blessings of Lord Shiva and Goddess ParvatiIf you also wish to seek good luck and success then here are some dos and don ts to follow during the holy month of ShravanMentioned in Hindu religious texts the following simple ways will help you achieve success and avoid bad luck and evil energiesIt is advised that the person wakes up before sunrise takes a bath and visit nearest Shiva temple HeShe must offer mixture of water and cold milk on Shivlinga with continuous chants of Om Namah Shivaya Bring home a Sidda Prada Shivlinga and religiously worship it on a daily basis during the entire Shravan month Bath it in cold milk and then wash it with cold water clean it and offer Bilva leaves and mishriRegularly visit a lake pond or any river source with aquatic life and feed them flour dough balls While feeding the fish keep thinking of Lord Shiva It is said doing this would enhance financial situationFor those experiencing health issues chanting Mahamrityunjay Jap daily for 108 times is beneficial Those who can manage can also perform Mahamrityunjay Havana every Shravan SomvarIf facing problems in marriage life or delayed marriage then one must regularly offer saffron milk to Shivalinga It is believed that all relationship hurdles are warded after this and the individual gets a blessing from Lord Shiva and Goddess ParvatiFeeding fresh green grass to cows buffalo specifically during the Shravan month attracts prosperity and opens opportunities for successFor continued peace and prosperity in your home feed the poor every day It also offers peace to ancestor s soulEvery Monday take 21 Bilvapatra and write Om Namah Shivaya with Sandalwood Chandan paste and offer them to Shivalinga it fulfills all wishesDuring the entire month spray fresh gomutra cow urine all over your home in every corner to bring in positive blessings and successPerforming Rudra Abhishek or simply Abhishek on every Shravan Somvar also reduces problems related to Mangal DoshaIt is advised to not do certain things as it will not only attract negative energies but also chase off peace and prosperity away from your homeRefrain from eating nonvegetarian food during the Shravan month and avoid consumption of alcoholDo not kill snake during Shravan month Snakes are considered a beloved entity to Lord Shiva

India is a land of diversity India is a land of varied cultures India is a land of festivals And then India is a land of temples From the hilly areas of Himalayas to the mountains of Ladakh to the forgotten villages of Tamil Nadu to the caves of Maharashtra and deserts of Rajasthan Temples are everywhere The stories legends and beliefs associated with these places are all the more astounding There are so many unexplained things related to these worship places that one can run short of explanations and ideas Here s a lookFor people who don t believe in ghosts this is the place to come where evil spirits are exorcised Mehandipur Balaji temple is located in Dausa district of Rajasthan 255 km away from Delhi There are three main deities of the temple Lord Hanuman Pret Raj The King of spirits Bhairav Thousands of devotees flock to this temple to get cured and get evil spirits exorcised As the legend goes the images of Lord Balaji and that of Pret Raja the king of spirits appeared from Mehandipur Dham around one thousand years ago in a valley amidst the hills of the Aravali Range You can see devotees doing strange things like pouring a bucket of hot water on head and still not burning themselves Heavy stones pelted on people People are chained like animals for being cured There are others who inhale the fumes out of the sweet patasas kept on smoldering cowpats It is important that one should never look backwards after performing prayers and then walk out of the temple premises The reason for not looking back is that if there are any evil spirits behind it will not follow the devotee Kamakhya temple is a famous pilgrimage situated at Guwahati Assam Being one of the 108 Shakti Peeths it has a very interesting story of its origin When Lord Shiva s wife Sati jumped into the fire and killed herself Shiva went insane with rage He placed Satis dead body on his shoulders and did the tandav or dance of destruction Lord Vishnu started cutting parts of Sati s body in order to calm Shiva down The place where goddess Sati s womb and vagina fell is the Kamakhya temple Kamakhya devi is famous as the bleeding goddess The mythical womb and vagina of Shakti are supposedly installed in the Garvagriha or sanctum of the temple In the month of Ashaad June the goddess bleeds or menstruates At this time the Brahmaputra river near Kamakhya turns red The temple then remains closed for 3 days and holy water is distributed among the devotees of Kamakhya devi There is no scientific proof that the blood actually turns the river red Some people say that the priests pour vermilion into the waters Call it a miracle but the Nandi statue and the other idols in the temple were intact even after the Kedarnath Tragedy last year In fact those pilgrims who were in the temple during the tragedy also survived But the destruction all around the temple had been terrible as the real death toll in the floods and cloudburst was huge A hand pump located inside the premises of an ancient Hanuman temple in Uttar Pradesh is visited by hundreds of people irrespective of their religion every day Reason its water is said to have miraculous healing powers Hindus Muslims and people from other religions have been lining up before the hand pump installed within the gate of the Hanuman temple in Jagnewa village of Jalaun district According to locals the hand pumps water recently turned miraculous after a saint from Madhya Pradesh infused it with therapeutic propertiesIn Bhubaneswar the 8thcentury Baitala Deula Vaital temple has a reputation of being a powerful tantrik center Inside the temple stands the mighty Chamunda Kali wearing a necklace of skulls with a corpse at her feet Tantriks find the dimly lit interior of the temple an ideal place for absorbing ageold currents of power that emanate from this spotJwala Ji shrine is located in the lower Himalayan town of Jawalamukhi in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh In the temple there are 7 or 9 naturally occurring jyotis flames that constantly burn They are considered as the 7 divine sisters of Maa Bhagwati or the 9 incarnations of Maa Durga Despite many scientific researches the reason behind these natural flames couldn t be found out The flame burns flawless and in blue colour It is burning continuously since first date of its known history We dont have any knowledge of its source Some says it could be reserve of natural gas but same could not be validated Mogul chakravarthi Akbar even tried to extinguish this eternal flame but couldnt get successful Governement of India with team of abled Geologists under Nehru Ji has also tried but in vain to establish the source of this eternal flameKarni Mata Temple or otherwise known as rat temple is in a small town of Deshnok about 30 kms south of Bikaner Rajasthan The temple is dedicated to Goddess Karni an incarnation of Maa Durga She is said to have lived in Deshnok in the 14th century As per one of the stories when her youngest son drowned She asked Yama the god of death to bring him back to life Lord Yama denied her request Thus She being an incarnation of Goddess Durga brought her son back to life She then proclaimed that none of her family members would die and they would in fact incarnate in the form of ratsThe temple dates back to 15th century and was built under Maharaja Ganga Singh s rule of Bikaner Temple houses around 20 000 rats that are fed protected and worshipped Rats can be seen here eating from huge metal bowls of milk sweets and grains the leftovers of which are offered to the visitors A glimpse of white rats believed to be manifestations of Karni Mata herself and her four sons is considered auspicious and fruitfulStambheshwar Mahadev Temple is situated about 40 miles from Vadodara in the small town of Kavi Kamboi of Gujarat It is located within the Bay of Khambhat in the Arabian Sea This temple of Lord Shiva can only be visited during the low tide hours In the hours of high tides it remains mostly submerged People flock this temple in large numbers to witness the event of submerging or reemerging of the temple from the sea It s a surprise that despite remaining in water the temple is still the same Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District Kerala It is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world with an estimated 100 million devotees visiting every year Sabarimala is believed to be the place where the Hindu God Ayyappan meditated after killing the powerful demoness Mahishi On Makarasankranti every year without fail miraculous events occur Firstly as the jewels of the Lord are transported from the Old Pandalam Palace to Sabarimala a Krishnaparanth holy Garuda an eagle the vehicle of Lord Vishnu circles above the precious jewels in fact guarding them like a protectorAs the beautiful jewels are placed on the golden body of the Lord within the temple the several hundred thousand devotees outside crammed into any available free space chant Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa When the jewels are finally all adorned on the Lord the Nakshatram in the sky miraculously disappears Within moments after the Lord being adorned with the Thiruvabaranam an effulgence Divya Jyoti appears in the opposite hills of Shabarimala shining 3 times A truly amazing miracle occurred in the holy temple of Tirumala on the mid night of 7th November 1979 The huge Bronze bells that were hanging in front of the principal deity of Lord Sri Venkatewsara in the holy Bangaru Vaakili Sanctum Sanctorum of the Tirumala Tirupati temple started ringing on their own without anyone touching them sending waves of heavy metal sound across the whole of the Tirumala hill shrineTatwani about 25 km from Dharamshala is known for its waterfalls and hot springs There is a particularly famous hot spring pool built within an ancient Hindu temple complex It is mandatory for the visitors of the temple to take a dip in the hot springs The water of the spring is just adequately warm and is believed to possess healing properties Om Banna or Bullet Baba is a shrine near Jodhpur India It is located in Chotila village about 50km off of Jodhpur Devotees numbering hundreds turn up each day to pray for a safe journey and make an offering of liquor Shri Om Singh Rathore was the son of a village leader In 1991 he was killed when he drove into a tree with his bike The motorcycle was seized by local police and taken to the police station but was found the next morning at the accident spot The bike was taken back again and this time secured with chains but it returned to the same spot next morning again Miracles are not contrary to Nature but only are contrary to what we know about Nature What do you think Do share your opinions about the same

According to the sacred texts of Hinduism chanting these Durga Saptshati mantras during the auspicious days of Navratri would not only shower you with divine blessings but will also fulfill all your deepgrown desiresIt is believed religious chanting of these mantras not only impresses God but also dispels negative energy from our lives And the most important thing about these mantras is their correct pronunciationIncorrect pronunciation or mistakes while chanting these mantras will draw illfate and upheaval in your lives In order to help you with it we have mentioned the accurate pronunciation of these mantras and proper puja vidhi Take a look An early morning bath before sunrise is considered good but if that cannot happen then try to take a bath right after you wake up now lit a ghee lamp in front of a Durga idol at your nearest temple or place of worship at homeUsing a japmala if not then 11 21 or 51 times chant mantras for up to 5 rounds eachPatnim Manoramam Dehi Manovritanusarindnim Tarindhim Durgsansaarsagarasya KuloddwamDurge Smrita Harsi Bheetimsheshjantoh Swastheh Smrita Matimteev Shubhaam Dadaasi Daaridraydhukahbhyaharidnin Ka Tvadanya Sarwopkaarkardnay SadadrachitaaShulen Paahi Nwo Devi Paahi Khadngain Chaambike Ghantaswanen Nah Paahi Chaapjyaanih swanen ChaSarwasya Budhirupedn Jansya Hadi Sansthite Swargaapavarde Devi Narayadni Namostu TeTwam Vaishnavi Shaktiranntweerya Vishwasya Beejam Parmaasi Maya Sammohitam Devi Samastmetata Twam Ve Prasanna Bhuvi MuktihetuhDurge Devi Namastubhyam Sarwakamarthsaadhike Mum Sidhimasidhm Wa Swapne Sarve PradarshyaDevyaa Yayaa Tatimdam Jagadatmshaktyaa Nishshekshadevgadnshaktisamuhmubhyaa Taamimbkaamkhiledevmaharishipujayaam Bhaktyaa Nataah Sma Vidhaatu Shubhaani Saa NahYasyaa Prabhaavamtulam Bhagwaananntou Brahmaa Harshva Na Hi Vaktumlam Balnm Cha Sa Chandikakhiljagatparipaalnay Naashaay Chashubhbhyasy Matim KarotuRogaanshekshaanpahmsi Tushta Rushta Tu Kamaan Saklaanbhishtaan Tvaamaashritanaam Na Vipinnradnaam Tvaamaashritanaa Hrihashryataanm PrayaantiSarwaabadhaprashmanm Treloukyasayaakhileshviri Aevmev Tvayaa KaryamsmadwrivinaasnamDevi Prapnnaartihare Praseed Praseed Maatrjagtoukhilasya Praseed Vishweshwri Paahi Vishwam Tvameeshwri Devi CharacharsyaNavaratri is one of the most awaited and one of the most celebrated festivals across India In the ancient sacred texts it is mentioned that those who worship the divine feminine on these auspicious days attain liberationAccording to Hindu mythology Lord Shiva allowed his wife Goddess Durga to visit her mother for nine days during this time and hence Navratri is celebrated for nine days nav means nine and ratri means nightPeople prepare a lot of dishes during Navratri devotees also observe fasts during the nine daysCertain routine tasks are strictly prohibited during the festival as it is believed that not abiding by these rituals will forbid them from seeking the blessings of Goddess Durga

Being a highly spiritual country festivals are at the heart of people s lives in India The numerous and varied festivals that are held throughout the year offer a unique way of seeing Indian culture at its best Dont miss these following popular festivals in IndiaIndia is well known all over the world as a country of cultural and traditional festivals as it has many cultures and religions One can enjoy the festival celebration in India every month As it is a secular country full of diversity in the religions languages cultures and castes it is always crowded with the people involved in the fairs and festivals celebration People from each religion have their own cultural and traditional festivals Some of the festivals are celebrated by the people of all religions in the entire nation Each and every festival is celebrated uniquely in different ways according to the rituals beliefs and its significant history behind Each festival has its own history legend and significance of celebration Indian origin people in the abroad also celebrate their cultural festival with the immense passionIndia is a country with example of unity in diversity as it contains people of various religions like Hindu Muslim Sikh Jain Christian and etc Some of the festivals are celebrated at national level whereas some of are at regional level

Nowadays we find that same festivals is performed by some people of the same community on one date and others of same community on other dates Especially followers of Sama Veda Why this sort of difference exists even in celebrating festivals

Particularly in INDIA Every festival has a spiritual religious historical scientific and cultural linkstraditions Thus it is suggested that let us use the FESTIVALS as occasion in life to adoptlearn something new to improve our existing life functionsactivities as well as improvement in thought cycle of our thought producing machine or brain If we follow this approach than good in our life Let me tell here that majority in our society use these occasions of FESTIVALS for many undesired activitiesills which is known to everybody With all the best wishes on the occasion of KING OF FESTIVALS DEEPAVALI

Festivals have existed since time immemorial Man marks festivals on different occasions bearing religious cultural or national significance Festivals are occasions to remember something important They are an occasion at times to celebrate At other times to mourn Festivals are the bearers of human cultureSome festivals signify certain events in the past Others signify the importance of human relations like Rakhsa Bandhan celebrated in India The marking or the celebration of festivals have evolved over time As human civilization has progressed festivals have also evolved in both their ritual markings as well as their inner spirit A festival has 2 aspects the body and the soul The body of the festival is marked by the rituals and standard observances surrounding it These are necessary However every festival has an underlying spirit This must never be forgotten The fruit can only be eaten tastefully once the skin is peeled In the same way it is the rituals which help remove the coverings of the true essence In other words it is the rituals which help us or should help us in reaching the inner emotion and feeling of the festival This ritual should be measured by the yardstick whether it leads to good human values Indeed the ability to arouse feelings and the positive spirit of human values is the best way to measure the real impact of the ritual and in turn the festival There are some touching and beautiful festivals in every religion They strike a chord of deep humanity within us We become more awakened and more conscious during those times Indeed such humanity needs to be awakened every day May your every day be a festival of gratitude forgiveness love humility giving patience and truth Dr Huz

Festivals have existed since time immemorial Man marks festivals on different occasions bearing religious cultural or national significance Festivals are occasions to remember something important They are an occasion at times to celebrate At other times to mourn Festivals are the bearers of human cultureSome festivals signify certain events in the past Others signify the importance of human relations like Rakhsa Bandhan celebrated in IndiaThe marking or the celebration of festivals have evolved over time As human civilization has progressed festivals have also evolved in both their ritual markings as well as their inner spiritA festival has 2 aspects the body and the soul The body of the festival is marked by the rituals and standard observances surrounding it These are necessary However every festival has an underlying spirit This must never be forgotten The fruit can only be eaten tastefully once the skin is peeled In the same way it is the rituals which help remove the coverings of the true essence In other words it is the rituals which help us or should help us in reaching the inner emotion and feeling of the festival This ritual should be measured by the yardstick whether it leads to good human values Indeed the ability to arouse feelings and the positive spirit of human values is the best way to measure the real impact of the ritual and in turn the festivalThere are some touching and beautiful festivals in every religion They strike a chord of deep humanity within us We become more awakened and more conscious during those times Indeed such humanity needs to be awakened every day May your every day be a festival of gratitude forgiveness love humility giving patience and truth Dr Huz

A festival is an event ordinarily celebrated by a community and centering on some characteristic aspect of that community and its religion or traditions often marked as a local or national holiday mela or eid Next to religion and folklore a significant origin is agricultural Food is such a vital resource that many festivals are associated with harvest time Religious commemoration and thanksgiving for good harvests are blended in events that take place in autumn such as Halloween in the northern hemisphere and Easter in the southernFestivals often serve to fulfill specific communal purposes especially in regard to commemoration or thanksgiving The celebrations offer a sense of belonging for religious social or geographical groups contributing to group cohesiveness They may also provide entertainment which was particularly important to local communities before the advent of massproduced entertainment Festivals that focus on cultural or ethnic topics also seek to inform community members of their traditions the involvement of elders sharing stories and experience provides a means for unity among familiesIn Ancient Greece and Rome festivals such as the Saturnalia were closely associated with social organisation and political processes as well as religion123 In modern times festivals may be attended by strangers such as tourists who are attracted to some of the more eccentric or historical ones4

Paryushana or Daslakshana is the most important annual event for Jains and is usually celebrated in August or September It lasts 8 10 days and is a time when lay people increase their level of spiritual intensity often using fasting and prayermeditation to help The five main vows are emphasized during this time The last day involves a focused prayermeditation session known as Samvatsari Pratikramana At the conclusion of the festival followers request forgiveness from others for any offenses committed during the last year Forgiveness is asked by saying Micchami Dukkadam to others which means If I have caused you offence in any way knowingly or unknowingly in thought word or action then I seek your forgiveness The literal meaning of Paryushana is abiding or coming togetherMahavir Jayanti the birth of Mah v ra the last tirthankara of this era is usually celebrated in late March or early April based on the lunar calendar Diwali is a festival that marks the anniversary of Mah v ras attainment of moksha Gautama Swami the chief disciple of Lord Mah v ra attained omniscience Keval J na later the same day kartikaamavasya The Hindu festival of Diwali is also celebrated on the same date kartika amavasya On Diwali morning Nirvan Ladoo is offered after praying to Lord Mah v ra in all Jain temples all across the world Diwali is celebrated in an atmosphere of austerity simplicity serenity equity calmness charity philanthropy and environmental consciousness Jain temples homes offices and shops are decorated with lights and diyas small oil lamps The lights are symbolic of knowledge or removal of ignorance Sweets are often distributed The new Jain year starts right after Diwali Some other festivals celebrated by Jains are Akshaya Tritiya and Raksha Bandhan